Full bathroom remodeling in Tacoma, WA.

Why Tacoma remodels go to the studs

In a house built before the Second World War, the shower wall you see is often not the only one. It is common to find tile set over older tile, plaster softened by a slow leak, or a window in the shower that has been letting water into the framing for years. Covering that up again only resets the clock.

Opening the walls lets us check framing for rot, replace tired supply lines and get a clean, flat surface for waterproofing. It also gives you a once-in-a-generation chance to move a light, add blocking for grab bars or fix a fan that never worked.

What we handle on a full remodel

Everything inside the four walls, coordinated as one schedule.

• Demolition, hauling and dust protection for the rest of the house
• Framing repairs and blocking where the old walls need it
• Supply and drain changes for a new valve, drain or vanity spot
• A continuous waterproofing membrane on wet walls and the shower floor
• Tile walls and floors, set flat and laid out before the first piece goes up
• Vanity, top, sink, toilet and trim fixtures
• An exhaust fan ducted to the outside

Contractor or handyman?

People searching for remodeling contractors in Tacoma usually have a choice between a general handyman, a big-box installer and a specialty bath company. The difference that matters most is what happens behind the tile. Ask anyone you interview to describe their waterproofing method in plain words. If they cannot, keep looking.

White Saber is a Washington-registered contractor (L&I #WHITESL795LW) whose background is tile, the part of a bathroom that shows every shortcut.

How a Tacoma remodel usually unfolds

First a walkthrough, where we look under the sink, in the crawlspace or basement if there is one, and at the attic path for the fan. Then a written scope and price. Then demo, where the house tells us its secrets, and we call you before anything outside the scope gets touched.